Self-locking tubular frame display device



June 12, 1956 M. J. VIGLIETTA 2,749,636

SELF-LOCKING TUBULAR FRAME DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Sept. 2, 1953 IN VENTOR.

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United States Patent SELF-LOCKING TUBULAR FRAME DISPLAY DEVICE MichaelJ. Viglietta, Elmhurst, N. Y., assignor to Royal lgftlolllinters, Inc.,Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New The present invention relatesgenerally to improvements in display devices of the picture frame type,

wherein a body portion or display panel of the device, adapted toreceive and display suitable advertising matter, is surrounded by atubular shaped border or margin simulating a picture frame.

It has been found that such three-dimensional displays attract theattention of a greater number of people than where merely a flat type ofdisplay is used. Furthermore, the use of a three-dimensional displaygreatly enhances the appearance of a lithograph or the like mounted inthe display.

Picture frame types of display devices have heretofore been generallyknown, but they have not proven as satisfactory or as practical asdesired. One of the difliculties has been in obtaining an eflicient andeconomical means for constructing a non-collapsible frame to hold thedisplay panel which would resist the rigors of shipment and at the sametime reflect the desirable threedimensional effect and impart thenecessary rigidity to the combination of frame and display panel. Theseprior types could only utilize one side of the display panel, and weremade of folding parts having hooks and slots or parts which were gluedor stapled, all of which be- These prior types would also warp after ashort period of use and would become unsightly for the product it wasdisplaying. Furthermore, these prior types would have to be assembled bythe consumer, resulting in a much less sturdy display than where themanufacturer himself did the assembly.

The present invention provides a single, inexpensive, and thoroughlypractical means for securing and retaining a picture frame displaydevice in a rigid display position. The present invention also providesfor a completely reversible picture frame display device whereby bothsides of the display panel may be utilized. The present inventionfurther provides for a picture frame display device which is bothattractive in appearance and can be fully assembled by the manufacturer,thus resulting in a much sturdier and more permanent combination, aswell as being completely ready for use by the consumer.

An object of the invention is to provide a picture frame display devicewhich is non-collapsible, simple in construction and which has all itsparts locked in position by the manufacturer, resulting in a very sturdycombination.

Another object of the invention is to provide a picture frame displaydevice which is reversible and thus capable of utilizing both sides ofthe display panel for advertising purposes.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon anunderstanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described orwill be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages notreferred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employmentof the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes ofillustration and description, forming a part of the specification,wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective fragmentary view of a portion of thepresent invention, with portions broken away to show the catch flangespositioned on the edge of the display panel member;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section through the hollow tubular frame member atline 33 of Fig. 2, showing the position of the catch flanges enclosedwithin the hollow tubular member which has been positioned on the edgeof the display panel;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one section of the hollow tubular framemember showing the chambered ends and the longitudinal slit on thesurface thereof;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the back of the display frame showingmanner by which an easel may be temporarily attached; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the back of the frame showing manner bywhich a hanger may be temporarily attached.

Referring again to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. l, theinvention shows a display panel 2 upon which advertising matter can beaffixed to both plane surfaces by any suitable means. Display panel 2 issurrounded by four sections of hollow tubular frame members, eachsection, as shown in Fig. 4, having both ends cross-sectionally cut atan angle 4 of forty-five degrees with the axis of the hollow tube andhaving a longitudinally cut slit ltl. Fig. 1 shows the assembled displaydevice consisting of the display panel 2 and the hollow tubular frame 1in assembled relation, with the hollow tubular frame members 1 lockedone against the other by means of the cross-sectional cuts of forty-fivedegrees and thus prevented from any longitudinal movement.

Fig. 2 shows the means for locking hollow tubular frame members 1 fromtransverse movement, said means consisting of catch flanges 3 cut scoredor crease scored from the edges of the display panel member 2 andalternately folded toward the plane surfaces of the said display panel2.

After the catch flanges 3 are scored from the edges of the display panelmember 2, the hollow tubular frame member 1 is slipped over one edge ofthe display panel member 2 by means of slit it), completely enclosingthe catch flanges 3 and at the same time alternately folding catchflanges 3 closer toward the plane surfaces of display panel 2, as shownin Fig. 3. The tension of folding causes an upward pressure to beexerted by catch flanges 3 upon the inner surface of the hollow tube 1and thus locking said tube from transverse movement.

An easel 6 or hanger 8 can be temporarily aflixed to the display deviceas shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Hollow tubular frame 1 is flexible enough topermit tip 5 of easel 6 or tip 7 of hanger 8 to be temporarily insertedbetween it and the plane surface of display panel member 2 as shown inFigs. Sand 6.

Upon assembly of the picture frame the first three hollow tubular framemembers will easily slide into position on the edges of three sides ofthe display panel. The hollow tubular frame member is flexible enough toallow slit 10 to be temporarily widened to permit that section of hollowtubular frame to be passed over the display panel and over the catchflanges and into position.

Hollow tubular member 1 can be covered with any material designed tosimulate wood, leather or any other ornamental figure or design. Easel 6or hanger 8 can be aflixed temporarily at any position on the displaydevice, and the hollow tubular frame member 1 makes the identicalcontact on both plane surfaces of the display panel 2 with the resultthat the invention provides a completely reversible display.

While the present invention has been shown as substantially rectangularin form, it will be understood that other shapes or forms may beutilized without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.Also, while the catch flanges have been described as being formed fromthe edges of the display panel member by scoring, it is to be understoodthat catch flanges of the same or other suitable material can be affixedto the edges of the display panel member by various means withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention. Also, while thepresent invention has been shown with the display panel completelyenclosed by sections of hollow tubular frame members, it is to beunderstood that since this type of frame imparts great rigidity to thedisplay panel, it may be extended partially about the panel, for exampleon two opposing edges of the display panel to give the necessaryrigidity without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

It will be seen that the present invention provides an economicaldisplay device and that both sides of the display panel may be utilized.The device is simple in construction and has much more rigidity thanprior ones, as well as being able to be fully assembled at the factorywith no danger of damage while being shipped to the consumer.

As various changes may be made in form, construction and arrangement ofthe parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to beunderstood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrativeand not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A display device of the picture frame type comprising a displaypanel, at least one tab having one edge connected to an edge of saiddisplay panel, and having another edge reversibly directed toward thebody of the panel and forming a shoulder laterally spaced from saidbody, and a hollow tube having a longitudinal slit therein, said paneland said tab adapted to enter the tube through the slit with the tabenclosed in the hollow tube, and said shoulder engaged with the innersurface 4 of the tube to prevent withdrawal of the panel through saidslit.

2. A display device of the picture frame type comprising a displaypanel, a plurality of tabs having one of their edges resilientlyconnected to at least one edge of said display panel, and having theirother edges reversibly directed toward the body of the panel and forminga shoulder laterally spaced from said body, a member of said tabs beingswingable to one side of said display panel and the remaining number ofsaid tabs being swingable to the other side of said display panel, andhollow tubes having longitudinal slits therein fitting over an edge ofsaid display panel and enclosing said tabs in a hingedly folded positiontoward the sides of said display panel that when the edges and tabs arefully entered in the tubes, the tabs will swing away from the displaypanel.

3. A display device of the picture frame type comprising a displaypanel, a plurality of first tabs disposed along the edges of said paneland having one edge resiliently hinged to the panel to swing to one sideof the panel, a plurality of second tabs disposed along the edges ofsaid panel and having one edge resiliently hinged to the panel theretoto swing to the other side of the panel, the other edges of said tabsbeing reversibly directed toward the sides of the panel and forming ashoulder laterally spaced from said body, and a plurality of hollowtubes having longitudinal slits in them adapted to enclose the hingedlyconnected first and second tabs and a portion of all the edges of saiddisplay panel, so that when the edges and tabs are fully entered in thetubes, the tab will swing away from said panel.

4. A display device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the diameter of saidhollow tubes is at least equal to the length of said tabs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,481,120 Bronbosz Jan. 15, 1924 1,737,375 King Nov. 26, 1929 1,738,273Anderson Dec. 3, 1929 1,841,225 Tripp Jan. 12, 1932 2,403,491 Bogia July9, 1946 2,573,413 Duncan Oct. 30, 1951

